Data Steward Lead

Roche•South San Francisco, CA

About The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche. This role is based in the Real-World & Clinical Data Strategy (RWCDS) team which drives data excellence and analytics to power enhanced decision-making and evidence-generation within Roche Product Development. We develop and implement data strategies that unlock the value of clinical, operational, and real-world data to accelerate evidence generation, decision-making, and innovation across PD and beyond. By embedding FAIR principles, advancing data governance, and enabling data productization, RWCDS ensures that data is not only findable and usable, but also a driver of scientific rigor, regulatory readiness, and AI-powered transformation. Through deep partnerships with internal functions and external collaborators, we shape a future-ready data ecosystem that supports personalized healthcare and efficient drug development. The Opportunity: The Data Steward Lead is responsible for defining and executing data stewardship strategies across priority domains within PD. Reporting to the Data Governance & Operations Lead, this role ensures data quality, standardization, and accessibility across the PD development ecosystem and Roche enterprise, enabling trusted and compliant data use for operational, clinical, regulatory, and scientific purposes. You lead the development and oversee execution of data governance policies, standards and procedures to ensure accuracy, consistency and reliability of data across clinical development data domains (e.g., clinical data, operational data, real-world data, etc.) You oversee implementation of metadata standards and data cataloging processes in collaboration with IT to enhance data discoverability and usability You oversee implementation of master data management frameworks and processes to ensure the integrity, consistency, and uniformity of core business entities You collaborate with data engineering and IT teams to ensure that data is structured, stored, and maintained effectively across systems You support the integration of data from various sources while maintaining alignment with organizational objectives You ensure data serves as an enabler of Roche’s AI strategy, facilitating AI-driven insights, innovation, and advanced analytics initiatives You partner with stakeholders across research, clinical, and business functions to understand data needs and support their use cases. You define and enforce data quality metrics and remediation processes You work closely with data product teams, data strategists, and operational stakeholders to ensure fit-for-use data You represent PDD in cross-functional data governance bodies and working groups You ensure compliance with data privacy and security regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and other relevant standards You advocate for a culture of data stewardship by educating teams on data governance principles and best practices You provide guidance and training to ensure effective adoption of data tools and frameworks You identify opportunities to streamline data workflows and improve data management processes You lead a team of data stewards and metadata specialists, enabling excellence in data curation and documentation across PD data domains You foster a high-performance, inclusive culture focused on collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement You coach and mentor team members to enhance their individual performance and long-term potential, developing future technical leaders across roles and backgrounds You set clear team objectives and performance goals in line with data governance priorities You support capability building and promote stewardship best practices across functions You manage resource allocation and workload planning based on priorities and capacity

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
12+ years of significant experience in data stewardship, governance, or clinical operations
Track record in managing data teams or leading stewardship initiatives
In-depth knowledge of metadata, data lineage, quality frameworks, and governance practices
Experience implementing enterprise data management tools and systems
Capacity for independent thinking and ability to make decisions based upon sound principles
Excellent strategic agility including problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and agility that extends beyond technical domain
Respect for cultural differences when interacting with colleagues in the global workplace
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, specifically in the areas of presentation and writing, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts in clear language

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with CDISC standards and regulated clinical data systems
Experience collaborating with IT, data owners, and external vendors
Knowledge of FAIR data principles and data compliance frameworks (e.g., GxP, GDPR)
Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement and change management in data organizations

Responsibilities

Defining and executing data stewardship strategies across priority domains within PD.
Leading the development and overseeing execution of data governance policies, standards and procedures.
Overseeing implementation of metadata standards and data cataloging processes in collaboration with IT.
Overseeing implementation of master data management frameworks and processes.
Collaborating with data engineering and IT teams to ensure effective data structuring, storage, and maintenance.
Supporting the integration of data from various sources while maintaining alignment with organizational objectives
Ensuring data serves as an enabler of Roche’s AI strategy
Partnering with stakeholders across research, clinical, and business functions to understand data needs and support their use cases.
Defining and enforcing data quality metrics and remediation processes
Working closely with data product teams, data strategists, and operational stakeholders to ensure fit-for-use data
Representing PDD in cross-functional data governance bodies and working groups
Ensuring compliance with data privacy and security regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and other relevant standards
Advocating for a culture of data stewardship by educating teams on data governance principles and best practices
Providing guidance and training to ensure effective adoption of data tools and frameworks
Identifying opportunities to streamline data workflows and improve data management processes
Leading a team of data stewards and metadata specialists
Fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture focused on collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement
Coaching and mentoring team members to enhance their individual performance and long-term potential
Setting clear team objectives and performance goals in line with data governance priorities
Supporting capability building and promote stewardship best practices across functions
Managing resource allocation and workload planning based on priorities and capacity